Pump controlling mechanism



March 3, 1936. E S 2,033,032

PUMP CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 13, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l March's, 193s. LC, JENNINGS 4 2,033,032

PUMP CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Oct. '13, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWW/ Patented 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE access: rum eomomme nmcnamsnr Irving 0. Jennings, South Nor-walls, Goran. Application mm- 13, 1933, Serial No.;i i93,509

The object of-this invention is to provide a new. and improved mechanism for controllin theoperation of a pump, particularly a centrifugal pump.

The invention has special application to the pumping mechanism used in a vacuum steam heating system, in which the returns are reeeived in a separating tank, the water in the bottom of the tank pumped back to the boiler by the centrifugal pump and the air or gases in the top of the tank removed by an air pump. Buch mechanism is shown and described in Letters Patent reissued to me June 26, 1923,;No'. 15,637. V In such an arrangement, the capacity of the 15 centrifugal pump has to be larger than the,

- ainountof water coming into the separating tank in order always to be able to emptythe tank. If there is no means to prevent it, the centrifugal pump at times will have its intake uncovered and become air-bound. This action disables the-centrifugal pump for water and when water once more covers the intake to the cen-' trifugal, a portion of the air in the centrifugal rotor .will be delivered through the eduction of 25 the pump. Some of this air will be dissolved by the water, and the remaining air and dissolved oxygen will be forced through. the pump and this mixture will tend to cause a corrosive action in the piping, boiler or tanks receiving this This action takes place particularly in the mechanism of, my prior patent, as the centrifugal rotor and the air pump are mounted on a com mon shaft driven by an electric motor controlled by a circuit having two breaks in multiple, one break being controlled by a vacuum controller and the other by a float arranged in the tank. with this apparatus, ii the water should be all pumped out of the receiving tank and the dei0 fired vacuum not obtained, the motor will continue to operate so that the centrifugal rotor will cause the deleterious action previously described.

I "remedythe defect previously described by placim a shut-oi! valve in the'pump line, pref- '45 erably in the eduction extending from the pump and by providing connections from the float ar-' ranges so that thevalve will be kept wide open when'ii e pump is to operate to withdraw water from the tank and will be kept closed when-the so pimpisnot'tooperate. M

This controlling means is operated by extreme-.- ous' powersuclras electric, pneumatic or bydraulic. I A convenient way ,to couple up this shut-ofl 5s vaiveimthlapmnplineistoprovideacircuitu- 12 Claims. (on. 103-26) tending from the circuit controlled by the float and to connect said circuit toelectric means such as a solenoid or a m'otor for opening and closing said valve.

By this arrangement, the valve will be either a 5 wide open when the pump is to operate or closed when the pump is not to operate. As no throttling action is obtained, the pump will operate economically at full capacity and there will be no wire drawing through the valve which will 10 tend to cut the seat also as the valve has to be of considerable size, by using extraneous power to operate the same, dependence will not be placed upon the rising. or falling of the float for power to'open and close the valve. The power 15 obtained by the rising and falling of a float is relatively small and if used for extra work, the float will be apt to become inoperative or stick.

The invention is illustratedin the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation, partly in section.

and partly in diagram, illustrating the invention where electricity is used as the extraneous power;

Figs. 2 and 3 are, detail sectional views illustrating one form of electrical operating mechanism which may be used;

Figs. 4 a time similar views illustrating another form 0 electrically operating mechanism, which may housed, and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 iuustrating the operation when the extraneous power is either hydraulic or pneumatic.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, A designates the receiver or separating tank into which the returns are led through a return n ne The pumping mechanism comprises an air pump 0 and a centrifugal pump D arranged on a common shaft and driven by an electric motor E. A vacuum regulatonF is connected to the tank 40 and controls an electric switch G. A water operated means such as a float H- is arranged in the tank and controls a doubleswitch I--I' shown in diagram at the left of Fig. 1. The circuit extend.- ing from the switch I operates a self-starter J, 4 comprising a closing coil K, which actuates a three-pole switch L, which closes and opens the circuits extending .to the electric motor E.

With the exception of the switch I, these parts are arranged substantially as shown in my said f prior patent, and act to control the motor so that u V ditions exist.

ugal pump has been entirely uncovered so that if It will be seen'that when the been removed from .the tank down to the low desired water level, the pumps may continue in operation if the vacuum is not reduced to the desired point,

thus leading tothe deleterious results previously described.

A circuit M is led from two ofthefeed through the switch I' previously referred to and is connected to operate the electrical mechanism hereinafterdescribed.

A valve N is arranged in the eduction pipe of the pump, which valve is kept normally closed b sp N'- l In the structure shown in Figs. 2 and 3, this closed and water is to be withdrawn from the tank 7 by the centrifugal pump D, the valve will be opened and the pump will beoperated economically at full capacity.

When the water has been drawn downlto the desired low level, the float opens the switch I-I' and opens the circuit extending to-the pump and alsoopens the circuitM extending to-the solenoid so that the same will be deenergized and so that the spring N will close the valve N.

Thus the pump will operate as previously described at full capacity when water is to be pumped, as the valve thus will be open-and so that'when the pump is not to operate to draw water from the tank, the valve N will be closed.

- The valve only has two positions, wide open or closed. The float is set too'pen the double switch I-I' before the inlet' or induction to the centrifthe pump continues to run, the same willinot become air-bound, and whereby if there is any leakage between the pumps, it will be of waterfrom the centrifugal pump over to the vacumn pump.

Thus there will be a solid volume of water be-' hind and in front of'the centrifugal rotor, when itis'not to pump andthusnoairor gascanpass through the eduction of the centrifugal pump,

thus giving the desirable results previously referred' to.

e In Figs. 4 and 5 an alternative m for opening and closing the valve is illustrated, the valve being shown open in- Fig. a and closed in Fig. 5.

This mechanismoomprisesa' plmfp Q operated by a small motor R, and employing on, which pump is connected to a piston connected to valve,'the parts being arranged so that when the circuit extending from the switch I is closed to operate the motor, the same will open'thevalve and so that when the said circuit is opened,- the valveNwillclose. "lhiselectricoperatcdmechais shown more in detail in Patent No. 1,867,393, granted July 12, 1932 in the name of William J. Woods.

Referringnow to the shown in Fig.6, a pipe S'extending from a sourced fluid press'urehasavalveTarrangedtherein,which valve is opened and closed through a snapaction connection U by float H. valve N isclosedbythe springlj'andistoa pistonorv,thepipesbeingcclmected underthispistonordiaphragm. 'nielipflis' also connected into the casing of the valve N througha'smallhleedW. I w

WhenthewaterfisesinthetankAtolEyfsiredhighlevehthefloatfl'willopenthe T through the snapaction U and the pressure act.- ing under piston V will open valve N and thecentrifugal pump will act to pump water from the tank A, the parts being shown in' this position in Fi 6. v When the water drops to the desired or ad- 6 justed low level, the floct'Hfl will close the valve T-through the snap action U and the pressure )in the pipe S will be relieved through bleed W, and the-spring N will close the valve N and thus the pump will be cut out'of operation.

The float control at the right of sponds to the float H of Fig- 1- ,If the pipe S is connected to a source of air 6, correpressure, the bleed W' shown in dotted lines is employed, instead of the bleed W.. This apparatus operates in principle the same as that previously described and obtains the advantages be fore specified.

.The details and arr 'ements herein shown and'descrlbed may be greatly varied by a' skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of my invention as expressed in the claims. Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure" by Letters Patent 1s;

1. A pumping mechanism for a vacuum steam heating system comprising a pump for creating avacuuminthesystem,atanktowhichthe returnsfrom thesystemcanbeled,apumpconnected to draw water therefrom. a motor for driving the pump, a float in the tank, a shut-off valve for controlling the flowthrough the pump line, and connections from the float arranged so that the valve will be kept wide open when the 33 'pumpis tooperate to dra'wwater fromthetank and will be-kept closed when the pump is not to 'operate.-

2. A pumping mechanism for a vacuum steam heating system comprising a pump f r rea ing 40 a vacuum in the system, atank to which the returns from the system'can he led, a pump'con nected to draw water therefrom, a motor for driving the pump. a float in the tank connected to control the operation of the motor, a shut oif valve for controlling the flow through and connections from the float arranged so that the valve will be kept wide open whenthe pump isto operate to withdraw water from the tank and will be. closed when the pump is not to op-'5o "beheptwide'openwhen thepinnpistooperate to withdraw water from the tank andwill be heptclosedwhenthepmnpisnottooperate- 4-..Amnn1flngmechaninnforav'acuumsteam heaflngsystemaplnnpforcreatinga vacmnninthesymatanktowhichthereturns fromthesystemcanbelemrmmpconnected -todrawwatertheretrom,ahelectricmotorforline, electric mechanism for opening and closing said valve, and another circuit extending from said switch to said electric mechanism.

5. A pumping mechanism for a vacuum steam heating system comprising a pump for creating a vacuum in the system, a tank to which the re turns from the system can be led, a pump for withdrawing water therefrom, a valve in the pump line, fluid pressure actuated mechanism for opening and closing said valve, a float in the tank, and connections therefrom to control the operation of the pressure-operating mechanism.

6. A pumping mechanism for avacuum steam heating system comprising a pump for creating a vacuum in the system, a tank to which the returns from the system can be led, a pump, a connection from the tank to the pump extending into the tank above the bottom thereof, a float in the tank connected to control the operation of the pump, .a shut-off valve for controlling the flow through the pump, and connections from the float to open and close said valve, the low water level obtained by the float being above the induction to the pump, whereby the pump will be kept full of water when the valve is closed.

7. A pumping mechanism for a vacuum steam heating system comprising a pump for creating a vacuum in the system, a tank to which the returns from the system can be led, a pump, connected to draw water therefrom, a motor for driving the pump, water operated means in the tank, a shut-off valve for controlling the flow through the pump line and connections from said means arranged so that the valve will be kept wide open when the pump is to operate. to draw the water from the tank and will be kept closed when the pump is not to operate.

8. A pumping mechanism for a vacuum steam heating system comprising a pump for creating a vacuum in the system, a tank to which the returns from the system can be led, a pump, connected to draw water therefrom, a motor for driving the pump, water operated means in the tank connected to control the operation of the motor; a shut-off valve for controlling the flow through the pump line, mechanism operated by extraneous power for opening and closing said valve, and connections from said float to control the operation of said mechanism arranged so that the valve will be kept wide open when the pump is to operate to withdraw water from the tank and will be kept closed when the pump is not to operate.

9. A pumping mechanism for a vacuum steam heating system comprising a tank, a vacuum pump and a water pump connected to said tank,

an electric motor for driving said pumps, a. float in the tank, a shut-off valve for controlling the flow through the water pump line and connections from the float arranged so that the valve will be kept wide open whenthe water pump is to'operate to draw water from the tank and will be kept closed when the water pump is not to operate.

10. A pumping mechanism fora vacuum steam heating system comprising a tank'to which the returns from the system can be led, a pump, for creating a vacuum in the system, a pump connected to draw Water from the tank, a motor for driving the water pump, a float in the tank, a shut-off valve for controlling the flow through the water pump line, electric connections from the float arranged so that the valve will be kept wide open when the pump is to operate to draw water from the tank, and will be kept closed when the water pump isnot to operate, and switches operated by the vacuum controller and by the float arranged in multiple so that the motor will operate when either or both of said switches is or are closed.

11. A pumping mechanism for a vacuum steam heating system comprising a tank to which the returns from the system can be led, a rotary vacuum pump for creating .a vacuum in the system, and a centrifugal water pump arranged to drawwater from the tank, an electric motor for driving said pumps. a flo'at in the tank, a shutoff valve for controlling flow through the water pump line, an electric connection from the float arranged so that the valve will be kept wide open when the water pump is to operate to draw water from the tank and will be kept closed when the water pump is not to operate, a vacuum controller operating a switch, and a switch operated by the float, said switches being arranged in multiple so that the motor will operate when either or both of said switches is or are closed.

12. A pumping mechanism for a vacuum steam heating system comprising a tank to which the returns from the system can be led, a pump, for creating a vacuum in the .system, a water pump arranged below the tank connected to draw water therefrom, a motor for driving this pump, a float in the tank, a shut-off valve for controlling the flow through the water pump line, and connections from the float arranged so that the valve will be kept wide open when the water pump is to operate to draw water from the tank, and will be kept closed when the pump is not to operate.

IRVING C. JENNINGS. 

